Fence-post



E; G. MATHBWS. I FENCE POST.` No. 551,979. Patentedy @vita/woes UNITED -STATES ATENT Fricn.V

ELISHA O. MATHEIVS, OF JACKSONVILLE, ILLINOIS.

'FENCE-POST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 551,979, dated December 24, 1895. Application filed .Tune 18, 1895. Serial No. 553,175. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELrsHA C. MATHEws, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jacksonville, in the county of Morgan and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fence-Posts; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompany ing drawing, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which forms a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in metallic fence-posts, and has special reference to the construction of a brace and base or rest to be used in connection with a metallic end or corner post with a tile or earthenware base.

Theinvention consists in certain novel features hereinafter described and claimed.

In the annexed drawing I have shown a perspective view of a fence-post embodying my improvements.

The post A is of the form shown in Letters Patent No. 487 ,7 80, granted to G. WV. Schofield December 13, 1892, and is mounted on a tile base or holder, as shown and described in said patent.

' In carrying my invention into practice I secure to the post, near the top thereof, a brace B, which is an inclined metallic b ar, having its upper end bolted to the post and its lower end bolted to a'hook O, which engages and rests on a pipe or tile D of earthenware, concrete, or like indestructible material, which pipe or tile I will, for the sake of clearness, call a brace-support. This tile or pipe is buried in the ground at a proper distance from the post and the lower end of the brace is bolted to a spur E, rising from a ring or band F, and then enters the brace support or rest and is bolted to the hook, as shown and above described. The ring F is clamped around the brace-support near the upper end of the same by a bolt or screw G and can be readily adjusted to a support or rest of any diameter. The outer end of the hook O is secured to the band F opposite the spur E, and this hook and the spur may be formed integral with the brace if so desired.

At an intermediate point of the post I secure a short bracing-bar lI, the outer end of which is secured to the main brace B, and from the point where this bracing-bar connects with the main'brace a brace or wire H extends downward toward the bottom of the post and is securely attached to the same below the surface of the ground.

The construction of my improved device being thus made known, it is thought the advantages of the same will be readily understood.

It will beseen at once that by providing` a brace of this kind the post is made to more effectually resist the strain put thereon by the fence-wires and by supporting the lower end of the brace on and securing it to the brace support or rest in the manner shown and describedv movement or yielding of the same is effectually prevented and rigidity of the structure assured. Spreading of the structure is prevented by the bracing-bar and supplementary brace.

The device is of a Very simple construction and is at the same time durable and cheap.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In a fence post of the character described, the combination of a hollow brace support, and a brace bar having its lower endprovided with a hook adapted to engage the edge of said support.

2. In a fence post of the character described, the combination of a hollow brace support or rest, a brace having its lower end provided with a hook engaging over the edge of said hollow support and a spur depending from the braceand bearing against the support at a point diametrically opposite the hook.

3. In a fence post of the character described, the combination of a hollow brace support, a brace having its lower end provided with a hook engaging over the edge of the support and being further provided with a spur bearing against the outer surface of the support at a point diametrically opposite the hook, and a band clamped around the support and having the ends of the spur and hook secured thereto. y

4. The combination of a post, a hollow brace support set in the ground at a distance from Y the post, a main brace secured to the post and IOO y having its lower end provided with a hooken- In tesfomony whereof I afX my 'signature gaging over the edge of the brace support, and n presence of Witnesses. provided with a depending spur at a point diametricaily opposite the hook, abracing1 bar ELISHA C. MATHEVS. 5 secured to the post and the main brace,- anda Vitnesses:

Supplementary brace secured to the main CHAS. A. BARNES,

brace and passing downward therefrom and M. FOX,

secured to the post. FRANKLIN M. FLINN. 

